His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday sent a message to students as schools across Jordan reopened for the start of the new academic year.

In the back-to-school letter, read out at all the Kingdom's schools Sunday morning, King Abdullah said arming students with knowledge and enabling their creativity are the objective of efforts to promote “an education process capable of empowering students to face challenges.”

The King stressed the importance of continually updating curricula, expanding the use of information and communication technology and providing a school environment that renders Jordanian schools as distinguished institutions of learning that promote creativity among students.

King Abdullah said that teachers would remain “at the center of our attention and care as they are the basic foundation of education due to their central role in promoting patriotism and good citizenship.”

In his letter, the King noted that teachers had a special position and praised their efforts and "noble mission".

Minister of Education and Higher Education Walid Maani said the Royal letter reflected the importance King Abdullah attaches to education.

He said the letter would galvanise administrative and teaching staff as well as students to do more to achieve the objectives of education.

The King's message was delivered to 1.6 million students returning to schools nation-wide, 1.2 million of which are in public schools and 400,000 in private schools.

There are 5,700 schools in various regions of the Kingdom; 3,300 of them are run by the Ministry of Education with 90,000 teachers.